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A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle takes off on a mission supporting Operation Epic Fury amid the ongoing Iran conflict at an undisclosed location on March 9, 2026. — Reuters/File
– Iran warns of escalating attacks against regional energy facilities.
– Whoever captures or kills the crew “will be specifically commended,” according to Iran’s Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province governor, as reported by the semi-official ISNA news agency.
– Israel’s military reports a new missile attack launched by Iran.
A U.S. fighter jet was shot down over Iran, prompting a search and rescue mission for possible survivors, a U.S. official told Reuters on Friday. This marks the first confirmed incident of its kind since the U.S. initiated hostilities against Iran on February 28. The official, speaking anonymously, offered no additional details. Both the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command did not respond to inquiries.
The possibility that U.S. pilots are alive and on the run inside Iran amid active conflict significantly raises the stakes for the United States. Iranian authorities urged civilians to stay alert for any survivors.
Iran’s Fars news agency reported that Iranian forces have launched a search operation to locate the downed American pilot. The incident comes as ongoing strikes hit Israel, Iran, and Gulf nations, with reports of large explosions in northern Tehran—though the targets remain unclear.
Additionally, Israel’s military confirmed a new missile barrage from Iran, triggering its air defense systems. Increasingly, strikes are focusing on economic and industrial sites, raising fears of wider disruptions to global energy supplies and broadening the conflict’s impact beyond the battlefield.
Iranian officials responded to recent U.S. strikes, including the destruction of Iran’s tallest bridge, with warnings of further escalation. Former President Trump also issued threats via Truth Social, claiming the U.S. military has yet to fully damage Iran, with plans to target bridges and electric power plants next.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported that roughly 70% of Iran’s steel production capacity has been affected, following multiple airstrikes earlier this week on Iran’s two largest steel plants. These attacks, carried out by the U.S. and Israel, have severely disrupted Iran’s industrial output.
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